Confused Flour Beetle

Confused Flour Beetle

Various habitats; found in flour mills, warehouses, and other buildings

Scientific Name

Tribolium confusum

Conservation Status

Not listed by IUCN

Rather than this beetle being confused, it's probably you who'll be confused if you see it in your breakfast bowl! Confused flour beetles don't bite or sting humans or pets or spread disease. But they can invade home pantries if they "hitchhike" in with stored grain products like flour or pasta. They prefer the high protein content of this food source, and can multiply into large populations.

If you want to keep the confused flour beetle out of your morning cereal, it's a good idea to store grain products, rice, pet foods, and dried meats and fruits in insect-proof containers or in the refrigerator or freezer. Also, buy seldom-used foods in small quantities to prevent long storage at room temperature.

Confused flour beetles are the most abundant and harmful insect pests of flour mills in the United States.